Lamp assembly and power module for fanless microfiche reader

ABSTRACT

A lamp assembly and power module is provided for a microform display apparatus, such as a fanless microfiche reader. The lamp assembly and power module are both situated in a drawer which is removably inserted into the base of the reader to form an air-restricted path for the efficient convection of heat away from the reader. By setting the lamp at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the drawer, both the lamp assembly and power module components can fit in the drawer. The front end of the drawer is provided with a grille for air passage, and a chimney structure is situated adjacent the rear of the drawer for the efficient evacuation of heat. The lamp and power module are located below the chimney, and as the lamp and power module components heat the surrounding air, the air rises up the chimney and out of the reader by convection. This air movement creates a draft through the grille in the front of the drawer, which serves to sufficiently cool the components.

This invention relates to microform display systems and more particularly to lamp assemblies and power modules for fanless microform display systems.

Microfiche film is a commonly used form of storing documents or graphical forms of information. Retrieval of the information stored on the microfiche requires the use of microform display systems such as microfiche reader apparatus. Such reader apparatus are well known, and use a variety of means for performing their functions. Present day microfiche readers commonly use a light source, which may be a high intensity lamp, optical means for condensing the light from the lamp and directing the light through the microfiche film, and a second set of optics for projecting the film image onto a screen. A power supply device comprising a voltage transformer is also commonly used to step down line voltage to the voltage utilized by the lamp.

The components of present day microfiche readers discussed above, namely, the lamp and power transformer, generate substantial amounts of heat while in operation, and consequently require some means for cooling. One means for such cooling is to ventilate these components with an air flow produced by a fan. However, fan driven cooling systems present several disadvantages. One disadvantage is that the noise produced by the fan may distract the operator of the microfiche reader, and may cause considerable operator discomfort. A further disadvantage to a fan driven cooling system is the additional electric current and subsequent cost involved to operate the fan. Still another disadvantage of a fan is that vibrations caused by the fan motor can disturb the image on the screen. Thus, there is a need for an efficient, but fanless cooling system in a microfiche reader.

A second requirement for the lamp and transformer components of a microfiche reader is ease of access. Lamp bulbs burn out and must be replaced. The transformer and auxilliary wiring comprising the power source for the lamp may also wear out or malfunction, requiring repair or replacement. Thus, there is a need for a microfiche reader which provides quick and easy access to the lamp and power source.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide a lamp assembly and power source module for a fanless microfiche reader. A more particular object is to provide a single fanless ventilation system which will adequately cool both the lamp and transformer of a microfiche reader.

Yet another object is to provide a lamp assembly and power module which can be housed as a single unit. A further object is to provide such a unit that can quickly and easily be removed from the microfiche reader for service and repair of the lamp and power module components therein.

In keeping with one aspect of this invention, a drawer is provided which contains the lamp assembly and power module for a microfiche reader. Within the drawer the lamp is set at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the drawer to provide space in the drawer for the power module.

The drawer is removably insertable into the base of the reader. At the front end of the drawer a grille is provided to allow air to flow through the drawer. In addition, a vertically rising chimney is located in the reader housing in communication with the rear of the drawer. The angled light path allows lamp and transformer to be located in the rear of the drawer, substantially the chimney. The drawer is removably inserted in the housing to form a unitary restricted air chamber between the housing, drawer and chimney. As the air in the drawer becomes heated by the lamp and the transformer, the hot air will rise up the chimney, and exit at the top rear of the reader. Once this air movement is created, additional air will enter through the grille in the front of the drawer by convection currents created by air rising in the chimney. Thus, a constant draft will be created through the drawer and chimney which cools the lamp assembly and power module.

The above mentioned and other features of this invention and the manner of obtaining them will become more apparent, and the invention itself will be best understood by reference to the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of the microfiche reader of the present invention showing the drawer in a fully closed position;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the drawer illustrating the location of the lamp assembly and power module; and

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of the drawer taken along line B--B of FIG. 2.

As shown in FIG. 1, the inventive lamp assembly and power module or transformer for a fanless microfiche reader comprises a microfiche reader housing, generally designated by the numeral 10. The reader includes a projection system for projecting an image onto viewing surface 44 along light path 45. The housing 10 also includes a drawer 11 removably disposed in the base of housing 10, which holds a lamp assembly and power module for providing power to the lamp. The lamp assembly and power module are disposed in a chamber 46 formed by the base of drawer 11 and the surrounding portion of housing 10. When drawer 11 is in its closed position, as shown in FIG. 1, chamber 46 forms a restricted air path in the base of housing 10. The rear of housing 10 includes a vertically rising chimney 14, having a vent 15 at the top of the chimney. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 the drawer 11 includes a handle 12 at the front of the drawer 11 to provide an easy means for sliding the drawer into and out of housing 10. The front of drawer 11 also includes an air intake grille 13 to allow the passage of air into chamber 46 in the closed drawer as will be explained.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the lamp assembly, or light projection system, disposed in the drawer 10 comprises a lamp shield 16, a reflector lamp 17, a reflector shield 19, and attachment means 20 for connecting the reflector shield 19 to drawer 10. The projection system further comprises a mirror 21, a base 22 for holding the mirror, and a spring clip 23 for holding the mirror 21 to the base 22 at its proper angle.

As seen in FIG. 2, the reflector lamp 17 and mirror 21 are oriented on a line C--C which is at an angle to the line D--D. Line D--D is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the drawer 11, and the longitudinal axis of the microfiche reader housing 10. Mirror 21 is properly positioned to reflect light upward through the lens system 31, 32 of the reader 10 by correcting for the angular dimension between lines C--C and D--D.

As seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, a power module for the lamp 17 is contained in the drawer 11 and comprises a voltage transformer 25. In the preferred embodiment harnessing means 26 and screw means 27 secure the transformer to the bottom plate of the drawer 11. One side of the transformer 25 is connected to a terminal 28, and the other side of the transformer 25 is connected to a lamp socket 29. Finally, as seen in FIG. 2, a barrier wall 30 stands between the transformer 25 and the lamp 17 to minimize the radiation of heat from the lamp to the transformer.

The placement of the projection system including lamp 17 and mirror 21 on angled line C--C produces two immediate advantages. First, compactness of reader construction can be obtained since room is thus provided in the drawer 11 for the only other heat producing element of the system, transformer 25. Having both transformer 25 and lamp 17 in sliding drawer 11 allows the drawer to be easily removed and replaced in housing 10, whereby each element in the drawer can be readily replaced or serviced if the need arises.

The second advantage is that both lamp 17 and transformer 25 are located in the rear of drawer 11, substantially directly below chimney 14. Chimney 14 rises vertically and forms part of housing 10, and is disposed entirely behind projection mirror 42. Thus, mirror 42 does not interfere with the vertical rise of chimney 14. Therefore, as the lamp and transformer heat the surrounding air, the heated air can rise vertically practically undisturbed through the chimney until it reaches vent 15 and is dissipated into the air. The convection currents caused by the rising air in chimney 14 draw cooler air into grille 13, and this cooler air passes through chamber 46 and into contact with lamp 17 and transformer 25 to complete the convection cooling cycle of the present invention. Since the heat producing elements are located at the rear of drawer 11, other parts of the reader such as the glass flat carriage deck and lens system are not unnecessarily heated.

The operation of the invention should now be clear to those skilled in the art. All of the electrical components comprising the lamp assembly and the power module are contained in the drawer 11. The orientation of the lamp assembly on line C--C at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the drawer 11 allows both the lamp assembly and the power module 25 to fit in the drawer 11 without making the drawer 11 disproportionately large with relation to the reader 10. The angle of the lamp 17 and the mirror 21 is compensated by the orientation of the mirror 21, which, as seen in FIG. 1, is oriented to reflect the light from the lamp 17 through the lens system 31, 32.

It is also seen that the invention will provide a fanless cooling action. As the lamp 17 and transformer 25 operate, the heat generated by these devices will tend to heat the air in the drawer 11. As the air is heated, it will rise up the chimney 14 and will exit the grille 15. This action will cause a draft which will result in fresh, cool air moving through the grille 13 into the drawer 11. This action will result in a constant flow of air through the grille 13, across the drawer 11 and up the chimney 14. This air flow will thus cool the lamp assembly and power module.

While the principles of the invention have been described above in connection with specific apparatus and applications, it is to be understood that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation on the scope of the invention. 

We claim:
 1. A microform display apparatus comprising a fanless housing having a chimney in the rear portion thereof and projection system for projecting an image from a film positioned near the front portion thereof into a viewing surface on the housing at a location which is above the film, said housing including a base having a center line extending along a longitudinal axis from the front to the back of the housing, said projection system including a lamp assembly, a mirror assembly, a power module means operatively connected to said lamp in order to provide power to illuminate said lamp, a chamber formed by said base and said housing, said chamber forming a restricted air path with respect to said housing, said chimney being a vertically rising chimney in said housing communicatingly connecting to said chamber, said lamp being mounted on a side of said base in said chamber at a point remote from said center line for projecting a beam of light at a predetermined acute angle with respect to said longitudinal axis toward said mirror assembly, said power module in said chamber on the other side of said longitudinal axis from said lamp, both said lamp and power module located on the portion of said base which is substantially under said chimney, optical means located over said mirror to direct light from said lamp assembly to the projection system of said apparatus, vent means defining an exit from said chimney, air intake means in said housing and connecting with said chamber, whereby cooling air flows through said air intake means, passes over said lamp and power module where heat is transferred to said air, and then rises in said chimney where it escapes from said housing through said vent means.
 2. The microform display apparatus of claim 1 wherein said housing includes a removably disposed drawer, said base comprising the base of said drawer, wherein said lamp and mirror assemblies can be withdrawn from and inserted in said housing for ease of access by removing and withdrawing said drawer.
 3. The microform display apparatus of claim 1 wherein said chimney is disposed in the rear of said housing, and said lamp and power module are mounted at the rear of said chamber.
 4. A microform display apparatus having a housing, a projection system for projecting an image on a viewing surface, said projection system including a lamp assembly and power module means for supplying power to illuminate said lamp, a chamber forming a restricted air path in said housing, a removably disposed drawer in said chamber, said lamp assembly being located on one rear corner of said drawer and said power module means being located on the other rear corner of said drawer, a rear portion of said housing forming a vertically rising chimney connected to said chamber and being located substantially over said lamp assembly and said power module means when said drawer is fully inserted in said housing, vent means at the uppermost extent of said chimney, air intake means in said housing and connecting with said chamber, whereby cooling air flows through said air intake means, passes over said lamp assembly and power module means on said drawer where heat is transferred to said air, and then rises in said chimney where it escapes from said housing through said vent. 